JavaScript for the Haters

Summary

This humorous script critiques JavaScript, highlighting its controversial history and the challenges developers face with its loose typing and numerous libraries. Despite its flaws, the speaker acknowledges JavaScript's evolution and its role in their career, ultimately promoting a JavaScript course.

Takeaways

• 📜 JavaScript is often criticized as an embarrassing toy language used for purposes it wasn't originally designed for.
• 👨‍💻 It was created by Brendan Eich in 1995 in just seven days to resemble Java but for the web.
• 🔥 JavaScript faced major issues and was considered a 'dumpster fire' until 2005 when Ryan Dahl introduced Node.js, bringing JavaScript to server-side development.
• 🧨 The comparison to Alfred Nobel and dynamite implies that Dahl later regretted his creation, similar to Nobel's regret over dynamite.
• 💻 JavaScript was originally meant for simple tasks like browser pop-ups but is now used for more complex applications such as desktop apps with Electron, mobile apps with React Native, and APIs with Express.js.
• 🔧 JavaScript developers frequently create new frameworks and libraries, often leading to an overwhelming number of options on GitHub.
• 🌍 The abundance of npm packages is humorously blamed for exaggerated consequences, such as environmental issues.
• 🤖 JavaScript lacks a mascot, but a potential design collaboration with David Cronenberg is mentioned.
• 🔄 The language has odd behaviors with types and operators, like adding arrays and objects producing unexpected results.
• 📦 Module systems like CommonJS and ESM add complexity to using JavaScript packages, often leading to compatibility issues.
• 📈 Despite its problems, JavaScript has evolved into a beloved language by 2022, and the speaker appreciates its role in their career.
• 🦃 The speaker humorously notes their gratitude for JavaScript on Thanksgiving, as it provides their livelihood.

Q & A

Who is credited with creating JavaScript?

Brendan Eich created JavaScript in 1995.

What was the original purpose of JavaScript?

JavaScript was originally intended to be a language similar to Java, but for web development.

How long did it take Brendan Eich to create JavaScript?

Brendan Eich created JavaScript in just seven days.

What major event in JavaScript's history is mentioned in the script?

The introduction of JavaScript to the server-side with the creation of Node.js by Ryan Dahl in 2005.

Who is Ryan Dahl, and what is his connection to JavaScript?

Ryan Dahl is the creator of Node.js, which brought JavaScript to the server-side.

What is the speaker's opinion on the use of JavaScript for building desktop and mobile apps?

The speaker humorously criticizes the use of JavaScript for building desktop apps with Electron and mobile apps with React Native, suggesting they are 'janky' and 'memory hogging.'

What is the speaker's view on the number of libraries available in JavaScript?

The speaker humorously exaggerates the abundance of libraries in JavaScript, suggesting that the number is so high that it could affect the Arctic ice.

What does the speaker say about JavaScript's type system?

The speaker humorously criticizes JavaScript as being 'loosely typed,' implying that it is inconsistent and detached from reality.

What is the speaker's opinion on JavaScript's module systems?

The speaker mentions that there are multiple module systems like CommonJS and ESM, which can lead to confusion about whether a package will work.

What does the speaker suggest about the future of JavaScript?

Despite its flaws, the speaker acknowledges that JavaScript has evolved into an 'awesome language' by 2022 and expresses love for programming with it.

What is the speaker's final message about JavaScript?

The speaker ends on a positive note, expressing gratitude for JavaScript and suggesting that it provides financial stability for his family.